Window net door attachment

ABSTRACT

A window net door attachment is provided for coupling with a vehicle door to provide protection to occupants within the vehicle during travel over rough terrain or during rolling over of the vehicle. Framed portions of the window net door attachment surround an open area between a top of the vehicle door, a roof, and a windshield area of the vehicle. A window net within a boundary support is attached to the frame portions and to the top of the vehicle door, such that the window net is disposed throughout the open area. Attachments along the boundary support retain the window net in an extended disposition within the open area. Vertical supports may be interwoven with the window net so as to impart relatively greater strength to the window net.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication, entitled “Window Net Door Attachment,” filed on Mar. 18,2016 and having application Ser. No. 63/310,502.

FIELD

The field of the present disclosure generally relates to vehicle safety.More particularly, the field of the invention relates to a window netdoor attachment for coupling with a vehicle door to provide protectionto occupants within the vehicle during travel over rough terrain orduring a rolling over of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Off-road vehicles enjoy an enthusiastic following because of their manyuses and versatility. As a result, several types of motorsports involveracing of various types of off-road vehicles. For example, competitionsexist that are dedicated to various types of terrain, such as rally,desert racing, and rock-crawling. Besides their use in variousmotorsports, off-road vehicles commonly are used for sight-seeing andtraveling to areas that may not be accessed by way of standard, pavedroads.

The use of higher clearance, higher traction vehicles enables off-roadvehicles to access trails and roads having rough, low traction surfacesthat may not be traversed using a standard, on-road vehicle. As such,off-road vehicles typically comprise larger wheels, wider tires, andsuspension configurations that are specifically engineered for use inoff-road applications. As a consequence of such suspensionconfigurations, as well as the rough terrain typically traversed, driverand passenger safety is a crucial concern. For example, drivers andpassengers typically must be wear safety restraints during off-roadtravel. A wide variety of different types of safety harnesses areavailable for use with off-road vehicles.

Unlike on-road vehicles, such as passenger cars, off-road vehiclestypically are open, often lacking windows, doors, and body panels commonto passenger cars. A frame comprised of multiple structural members withattached doors are configured to protect the occupants in the event of arollover situation. A drawback to the frames comprising many off-roadvehicles is that arms and legs of the driver and passengers are free toextend outside the vehicle during rolling over, potentially leading toserious injuries. Given that off-road vehicles routinely travel oververy rough terrain, such as mountainous regions, and are prone totipping over, there is a desire to improve the safety, convenience, andcomfort of off-road vehicles, while at the same improving theperformance of such vehicles.

SUMMARY

A window net door attachment is provided for coupling with a vehicledoor to provide protection to occupants within the vehicle during travelover rough terrain or during rolling over of the vehicle. Framedportions of the window net door attachment are configured to surround anopen area between a top of the vehicle door, a roof, and a windshieldarea of the vehicle. A window net within a boundary support is attachedto the frame portions and to the top of the vehicle door, such that thewindow net is disposed throughout the open area. The window net may becomprised of a loosely woven material suitable for retaining theoccupants within the vehicle, and the boundary support may be comprisedof a tightly woven portion that is interwoven with the window net.Attachments along the boundary support are configured to retain thewindow net in an extended disposition within the open area. Verticalsupports may be interwoven with the window net to impart relativelygreater strength to the window net. The material used for the window netmay be comprised of any suitable material, including being rigidmaterials.

In an exemplary embodiment, a window net door attachment configured tobe coupled with a vehicle door and extend throughout an open areabetween a top of the vehicle door, a roof, and a windshield area of thevehicle is comprised of a front frame portion configured to extend froma front of the top of the vehicle door toward a lower portion of thewindshield area and then extend upward adjacent to the windshield area;a top frame portion configured to extend from an upper-most end of thefront frame portion rearward adjacent to the roof; a rear frame portionconfigured to join with a rearward-most end of the top frame portion andextend downward to a rear of the top of the vehicle door; and a windownet disposed within a boundary support that is attached to the frontframe portion, the top frame portion, and the rear frame portion and tothe top of the vehicle door, such that the window net extends throughoutthe open area.

In another exemplary embodiment, the window net door attachment isconfigured to provide protection to occupants within the vehicle duringtravel over rough terrain and during rolling over of the vehicle. Inanother exemplary embodiment, any of the front frame portion, the topframe portion, and the rear frame portion may be comprised of one ormore bends, angled portions, and curves, such that the window net doorattachment optimally surrounds the open area. In another exemplaryembodiment, the front frame portion, the top frame portion, and the rearframe portion comprise separate components that may be assembled toextend around the open area. In another exemplary embodiment, the frontframe portion, the top frame portion, and the rear frame portioncomprise a single component that is configured to extend around the openarea. In another exemplary embodiment, the front frame portion, the topframe portion, and the rear frame portion are comprised of a materialthat is suitably rigid so as to sustain impact forces and retainoccupants within the vehicle during travel over rough terrain androlling over of the vehicle.

In another exemplary embodiment, the front frame portion and the rearframe portion are welded onto suitable portions of the vehicle door. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the front frame portion and the rear frameportion are fastened to the vehicle door by way of any of varioussuitable hardware fasteners. In another exemplary embodiment, the frontframe portion and the rear frame portion are configured to be fixedlyreceived into suitably configured slots disposed on the vehicle door. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the vehicle door and the window net doorattachment are manufactured as a single component that is ready forinstallation onto the vehicle.

In another exemplary embodiment, the window net is comprised of aloosely woven material suitable for retaining the occupants within thevehicle, and wherein the boundary support comprises a tightly wovenportion that is interwoven with the window net. In another exemplaryembodiment, a plurality of attachments are disposed along the boundarysupport and configured to retain the window net in an extendeddisposition within the open area, the plurality of attachments beingcomprised of any of various suitable hardware fasteners. In anotherexemplary embodiment, one or more vertical supports are disposed withinthe window net and extend from a top to a bottom of the boundarysupport, the one or more vertical supports being tightly woven stripsthat are interwoven with the window net and configured to impartrelatively greater strength to the window net. In another exemplaryembodiment, a hand hole is disposed at a bottom of the window net andnear the top of the occupant door, and wherein the boundary supportextends around the hand hole to provide support to, and discouragefraying of, the window net.

In an exemplary embodiment, a window net door attachment configured tobe coupled with a vehicle door and extend throughout an open areabetween a top of the vehicle door, a roof, and a windshield area of thevehicle is comprised of a front frame coupled with a forward portion ofthe vehicle door and disposed adjacently along the windshield area; atop frame coupled with the front frame and disposed adjacently along theroof; a rear frame joined with the top frame and extending to a rearwardportion of the vehicle door; and a window net attached to one or more ofthe top of the vehicle door, the front frame, the top frame, and therear frame.

In another exemplary embodiment, the front frame, the top frame, and therear frame are configured to be coupled so as to extend around the openarea, the front frame and the rear frame being configured to be coupledwith the vehicle door. In another exemplary embodiment, the window netdoor attachment is configured to provide protection to occupants duringrolling over of the vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, the windownet is interwoven with a boundary support that includes a plurality ofattachments that are configured to retain the window net in an extendeddisposition within the open area. In another exemplary embodiment, thewindow net is comprised of a hand hole disposed near the top of thevehicle door. In another exemplary embodiment, the window net iscomprised of one or more vertical supports that extend from a top to abottom of the boundary support, the one or more vertical supports beingtightly woven strips that are interwoven with the window net andconfigured to impart relatively greater strength to the window net.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an off-road vehicle comprising an exemplarywindow net door attachment coupled with a passenger door of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is an interior view of the exemplary window net door attachmentof FIG. 1 coupled to the passenger door of the vehicle;

FIG. 3 is a rearward view of an opened passenger door of the vehicle andthe exemplary window net door attachment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a frontward view of the opened passenger door and exemplarywindow net door attachment of FIG. 3.

While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Theinvention should be understood to not be limited to the particular formsdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. Itwill be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “firstattachment,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference shouldnot be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpretedthat the “first attachment” is different than a “second attachment.”Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specificdetails may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within thespirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” isdefined as meaning connected either directly to the component orindirectly to the component through another component. Further, as usedherein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for anynumerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerancethat allows the part or collection of components to function for itsintended purpose as described herein.

In general, the present disclosure describes a window net doorattachment configured to be coupled with a vehicle door and extendthroughout an open area between a top of the vehicle door, a roof, and awindshield area of the vehicle. The window net door attachment isconfigured to provide protection to occupants within the vehicle duringtravel over rough terrain or during a vehicle rollover situation. Thewindow net door attachment comprises a front frame portion configured toextend from a front of the top of the vehicle door toward a lowerportion of the windshield area and then extend upward adjacent to thewindshield area. A top frame portion is configured to extend from anupper-most end of the front frame portion rearward adjacent to the roof.A rear frame portion is configured to join with a rearward-most end ofthe top frame portion and extend downward to a rear of the top of thevehicle door. A window net is disposed within a boundary support that isattached to the front, top, and rear frame portions and to the top ofthe vehicle door, such that the window net extends throughout the openarea. A plurality of attachments may be disposed along the boundarysupport and configured to retain the window net in an extendeddisposition within the open area. In some embodiments, the attachmentsmay be configured to enable the occupants to readily detach the windownet from the front, top, and rear frame portions, such as during anemergency wherein the passenger door cannot be opened. One or morevertical supports may be disposed within the window net and extend froma top to a bottom of the boundary support. The vertical supports may betightly woven strips that are interwoven with the window net andconfigured to impart relatively greater strength to the window net.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an off-road vehicle 100 comprising an exemplarywindow net door attachment 104 coupled with a passenger door 108 of thevehicle. The window net door attachment 104 generally is configured tobe coupled with the passenger door 108 so as to extend throughout anopen area between a top 106 of the passenger door 108, a roof 112, and awindshield area 116 of the vehicle. The window net door attachment 104is configured to provide protection to occupants within the vehicleduring travel over rough terrain, and particularly in the event of arollover situation wherein the arms and legs of the occupants may beotherwise injured upon extending outside of the vehicle.

It should be understood that although the window net door attachment 104is disclosed specifically in connection with the passenger door 108 ofthe vehicle, a driver side window net door attachment is to be coupledwith a driver door of the vehicle 100. It should be further understoodthat the driver side window net door attachment is substantiallyidentical to the window net door attachment 104, with the exception thatthe driver side window net door attachment is configured specifically tooperate with the driver side of the vehicle 100. As will be appreciated,therefore, the driver side and passenger side window net doorattachments may be configured as reflections of one another across alongitudinal midline of the vehicle 100. Further, it should beunderstood that in some embodiments wherein the vehicle comprisesmultiple driver side and passenger side doors, the window net doorattachment may be incorporated into each of the doors, withoutlimitation.

Moreover, it will be recognized that the passenger door 108 illustratedand discussed herein is of the “suicide door” variety (i.e., hinged at arear of the door). It should be understood, however, that the window netdoor attachment 104 is not limited to being used with suicide doors, butrather the window net door attachment described herein may be coupledand used with a wide variety of vehicle doors, including, by way ofnon-limiting example, conventional front-hinged doors, forward swingdoors, gull-wing doors, butterfly doors, sliding doors, canopy doors,scissor doors, beetle-wing doors, switchblade doors, and the like.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-2, the window net door attachment 104 comprisesa window frame that is coupled with the passenger door 108 and surroundsthe open area bordered by the top 106 of the door 108, the roof 112, andthe windshield area 116 of the vehicle 100. As shown in FIG. 2, a frontframe portion 120 extends upward from a front of the top 106 of thepassenger door 108 toward a lower portion of the windshield area 116.Adjacent to the windshield area 116, the front frame portion 120comprises a sharp angled bend and then extends parallel to thewindshield area 116 toward the roof 112. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,a top frame portion 124 is coupled with an upper-most end of the frontframe portion 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the top frame portion 124 extendsrearward parallel to the roof 112. A rear frame portion 128 is joinedwith a rearward-most end of the top frame portion 124 and extendsdownward to a rear of the top 106 of the passenger door 108. It iscontemplated that any of the frame portions 120, 124, 128 may becomprised of any number of bends, angled portions, curves, and the like,as needed, such that the window frame optimally surrounds the open areaabove the top 106 of the passenger door 108, as described.

In some embodiments, the frame portions 120, 124, 128 may be comprisedof separate components that are assembled so as to form the windowframe, such as, by way of non-limiting example, segments of rigid tubingthat may be welded end to end so as to surround the open area above thetop 106 of the passenger door 108. In some embodiments, the frameportions 120, 124, 128 may be comprised of a single component, such as,by way of non-limiting example, a hollow rigid tube of suitable diameterthat is conformed to extend around the open area above the top 106 ofthe passenger door 108. As will be appreciated, the frame portions 120,124, 128 preferably are comprised of a material that is suitably rigidso as to sustain impact forces and retain occupants within the vehicle100 while traveling over rough terrain or during rolling over of thevehicle.

Moreover, it is contemplated that the front and rear frame portions 120,128 may be rigidly coupled with the passenger door 108 by way of any ofvarious techniques, without limitation. In some embodiments, the frontand rear frame portions 120, 128 may be welded onto suitable portions ofthe passenger door 108. In some embodiments, the front and rear frameportions 120, 128 may fastened to the passenger door 108 by way of anyof various suitable hardware fasteners, such as, by way of non-limitingexample, a plurality of suitably sized nuts and bolts. In still someembodiments, the front and rear frame portions 120, 128 may beconfigured to be fixedly received into suitably configured slotsdisposed on the passenger door 108. As will be appreciated, however, insome embodiments, the passenger door 108 and the window net doorattachment 104 may be manufactured as a single component that is readyfor installation onto the vehicle 100 without further assembly.Furthermore, it is contemplated that in some embodiments, the passengerdoor 108 and the window net door attachment 104 may be comprised of asingle component that is fabricated by way of stamping or injectionmolding. In some embodiments, additive manufacturing (AM) may be used toproduce either or both of the passenger door 108 and the window net doorattachment 104 in the form of a single component.

As best shown in FIGS. 3-4, a window net 132 is disposed within aboundary support 136 that is attached to the frame portions 120, 124,128 and to the top 106 of the passenger door 108. The window net 132 maybe comprised of a loosely woven material suitable for retaining theoccupants within the vehicle 100, as described above. The boundarysupport 136 may be comprised of a tightly woven portion that isparticularly well suited for attaching to the frame portions 120, 124,128 and to the top 106 of the passenger door 108, as shown in FIGS. 3-4.The window net 132 and the boundary support 136 may be interwoven so asto form a single component. In some embodiments, however, either or bothof the window net 132 and the border support 136 may be made of rubber,plastic, metal, or other suitable material, without limitation. Aplurality of attachments 140 are disposed along the boundary support136, around the perimeter of the window net 132, and are configured toretain the window net 132 in an extended disposition within the openarea above the top 106 of the passenger door 108. It is envisioned thatthe attachments 140 may be comprised of any of various suitable hardwarefasteners. In one embodiment, the attachments 140 are configured torender the boundary support 136 and the window net 132 irremovable fromthe frame portions 120, 124, 128 and the top 106 of the passenger door108. In some embodiments, however, the attachments 140 may be of aquick-release variety whereby the occupants may readily detach thewindow net 132 from the frame portions 120, 124, 128 in the event of anemergency wherein the passenger door 108 cannot be opened.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, vertical supports 144 are disposedwithin the window net 132 and extend from a top to a bottom of theboundary support 136. The vertical supports 144 may be tightly wovenstrips that are interwoven with the window net 132, similar to theboundary support 136, and are configured to impart relatively greaterstrength to the window net. The window net 132 further comprises a handhole 148 disposed at a bottom thereof and near the top 106 of thepassenger door 108. The boundary support 136 extends around the handhole 148 to provide support to, and discourage fraying of, the windownet 132. As will be appreciated, the hand hole 148 provides an openingwhereby an interior door latch 152 may be reached and operated fromoutside the vehicle 100, such that the passenger door 108 may be openedand closed.

While the invention has been described in terms of particular variationsand illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figuresdescribed. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicatecertain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill inthe art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may bemodified and that such modifications are in accordance with thevariations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may beperformed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well asperformed sequentially as described above. To the extent there arevariations of the invention, which are within the spirit of thedisclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it isthe intent that this patent will cover those variations as well.Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited bythe specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A window net door attachment configured to becoupled with a vehicle door and extend throughout an open area between atop of the vehicle door, a roof, and a windshield area of the vehicle,comprising: a front frame portion configured to extend from a front ofthe top of the vehicle door toward a lower portion of the windshieldarea and then extend upward adjacent to the windshield area; a top frameportion configured to extend from an upper-most end of the front frameportion rearward adjacent to the roof; a rear frame portion configuredto join with a rearward-most end of the top frame portion and extenddownward to a rear of the top of the vehicle door; and a window netdisposed within a boundary support that is attached to the front frameportion, the top frame portion, and the rear frame portion and to thetop of the vehicle door, such that the window net extends throughout theopen area, wherein one or more vertical supports are disposed within thewindow net and extend from a top of the boundary support to a bottom ofthe boundary support, the one or more vertical supports being tightlywoven strips that are interwoven with the window net and configured toimpart strength to the window net.
 2. The door attachment of claim 1,wherein the window net door attachment is configured to provideprotection to occupants within the vehicle during travel over roughterrain and during rolling over of the vehicle.
 3. The door attachmentof claim 1, wherein any of the front frame portion, the top frameportion, and the rear frame portion may be comprised of one or morebends, angled portions, and curves, such that the window net doorattachment optimally surrounds the open area.
 4. The door attachment ofclaim 1, wherein the front frame portion, the top frame portion, and therear frame portion comprise separate components that may be assembled toextend around the open area.
 5. The door attachment of claim 1, whereinthe front frame portion, the top frame portion, and the rear frameportion comprise a single component that is configured to extend aroundthe open area.
 6. The door attachment of claim 1, wherein the frontframe portion, the top frame portion, and the rear frame portion arecomprised of a material that is suitably rigid so as to sustain impactforces and retain occupants within the vehicle during travel over roughterrain and rolling over of the vehicle.
 7. The door attachment of claim1, wherein the front frame portion and the rear frame portion are weldedonto suitable portions of the vehicle door.
 8. The door attachment ofclaim 1, wherein the front frame portion and the rear frame portion arefastened to the vehicle door by way of any of various suitable hardwarefasteners.
 9. The door attachment of claim 1, wherein the front frameportion and the rear frame portion are configured to be fixedly receivedinto suitably configured slots disposed on the vehicle door.
 10. Thedoor attachment of claim 1, wherein the vehicle door and the window netdoor attachment are manufactured as a single component that is ready forinstallation onto the vehicle.
 11. The door attachment of claim 1,wherein the window net is comprised of a loosely woven material suitablefor retaining the occupants within the vehicle, and wherein the boundarysupport comprises a tightly woven portion that is interwoven with thewindow net.
 12. The door attachment of claim 1, wherein a plurality ofattachments are disposed along the boundary support and configured toretain the window net in an extended disposition within the open area,the plurality of attachments being comprised of any of various suitablehardware fasteners.
 13. The door attachment of claim 1, wherein a handhole is disposed at a bottom of the window net and near the top of thepassenger door, and wherein the boundary support extends around the handhole to provide support to, and discourage fraying of, the window net.14. A window net door attachment configured to be coupled with a vehicledoor and extend throughout an open area between a top of the vehicledoor, a roof, and a windshield area of the vehicle, comprising: a frontframe coupled with a forward portion of the vehicle door and disposedadjacently along the windshield area; a top frame coupled with the frontframe and disposed adjacently along the roof; a rear frame joined withthe top frame and extending to a rearward portion of the vehicle door;and a window net attached to one or more of the top of the vehicle door,the front frame, the top frame, and the rear frame, wherein the windownet is interwoven with a boundary support and one or more verticalsupports are disposed within the window net and extend from a top to abottom of the boundary support, the one or more vertical supports beingtightly woven strips that are interwoven with the window net andconfigured to impart strength to the window net.
 15. The door attachmentof claim 14, wherein the front frame, the top frame, and the rear frameare configured to be coupled so as to extend around the open area, thefront frame and the rear frame being configured to be coupled with thevehicle door.
 16. The door attachment of claim 14, wherein the windownet door attachment is configured to provide protection to occupantsduring rolling over of the vehicle.
 17. The door attachment of claim 14,wherein the boundary support includes a plurality of attachments thatare configured to retain the window net in an extended dispositionwithin the open area.
 18. The door attachment of claim 17, wherein thewindow net includes a hand hole disposed near the top of the vehicledoor.